Today, Sam Raimi’s Drag Me to Hell (2009) is available on DVD. Anyone who missed this ride to eternal damnation in the theaters should definitely invite Raimi’s demon into the comfort of their own home.
After several blockbusters about a certain klutzy superhero, Raimi proved, without a doubt, that no dust gathered on his horror crown during his Hollywood hiatus. Drag Me to Hell unleashes the tale of Christine, a loan officer, (Alison Lohman) that shames a gypsy woman (Lorna Raver) who begs her for an extension on her mortgage. Christine, seeking a promotion, decides to go forward with the eviction and earns the wrath of the gypsy’s curse that invokes a demon to carry out three days of torment and a free ride to hell.
Christine’s nightmare unfolds as a horror fan’s dream come true with Raimi reminding us how fun the genre can be. Fans of The Evil Dead Trilogy will be right at home in Raimi’s Looney Toons environment—evil spirits shoving their arms down throats with anvils coming to the rescue—and brutal but practical defenses like a desk stapler to the eye lid. True Raimi fans might also find that floating possessed body’s dance very Candarian-demonish.
Self-homage aside, this DVD is proof that you still can make a horror film with style and originality amongst a world of endless torture-horror, “Texas Chainsaw format” rip-offs, remakes, and artistic camcorder shakers. If you didn’t take this ride during its box office run then it’s time to get on the rollercoaster now. Scares, gore, laughs, and lots of disgusting oral imagery are promised. Raimi’s back with a new instant cult classic. “Hail to the King, Baby.”
#1 by Theron on November 4th, 2009
Amen, friend.